Animal-trap.



Not 873,502. PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907.

J. 0. CARLSON & c. 0. HEDSTROM.

ANIMAL TRAP. APPLICATION FILED JULY as, 1901.-

I svwenl ow J ma 0 07i 07V 1 5kg"? Osmrfiazfromamm PATENTED DEG. 10190?. J. 0. GARLSON & G. 0. HEDSTROM.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 23, 1907,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

atmuw UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

JOHN O. CARLSON AND CARL OSCAR HEDSTROM, OF FUNK, NEBRASKA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed-Tilly 23.1907- Serial No. 385.166.

and CARL OSCAR HEDSTROM, citizens of the- United States, residing atFunk, in the county of Phelps and State of Nebraska, have invented newand useful Improvements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to animal traps, and it has for its object toprovide a device of this class which shall be self-setting; that is tosay, in which the entrance of a victim into the trap leaves the latterreset and in condition for operation, the means whereby this isaccomplished being of a simple and improved nature.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve theconstruction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better. understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details herein exhibited,

ut that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view takenon the plane indicated by the line 22 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken onthe plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by likecharacters of reference.

The improved trap may be of any desired size and shape; the exampleillustrated in the'drawings is in the shape 'of a quadrant, because thisshape enables the trap to be conveniently placed in the corner of aroom, barn, ware-house, or other place where vermin have their runways,in such a manner as to present no obstruction and to avert exciting thesuspicion of the victims. The body of the trap is preferably made ofsheet metal, and said. body contains two separate compartments, one ofwhich, B is located in the angle formed by the intersection of the twostraight side walls 1, 1, while the larger compartment 0 is formedbetween the'outer curved wall 2 of the casing and the partition wall 3within the latter. The primary compartment B is provided with a flat top4 which constitutes a tra door, the same being provided with a roclishaft 5, the ends of which are pivoted in one of the side walls of thecasing, and in the partition wall 3; the top 6 of the compartment Cpreferably slopes from the partition 3 in the direction of the outerwall 2 of the casing, and upon the said sloping top there is secured acover 7 of textile fabric which will afford a firm and convenient foothold for the vermin who will thus be induced to move in the direction ofthe trap door 4. The latter has an outwardly extending arm 8 carrying aweight 9 whereby the trap door is counterbalanced and whereby it will beretained in its proper, or set osition.

The compartment C of t e trap is provided with a door 10, convenientlylocated beneath the weight carrying arm 8 of the trap door, said weightcarrying armserving to obstruct the opening of the door 10 unless thetrap door is sprung, or moved downward; the said weight carrying armthus serves as a securing device for the door 10,

The casing of the trap is provided adjacent to one end of thecompartment B, and

adjacent to the free end of the trap door with .upward extendingbrackets 12 afiording bearings for a rock shaft 13 carrying a yoke 14which is provided upon its under side with a catch 15 engaging the freeend of the trap door and serving to hold the latter from tripping ortilting; said catch being beveled upon its under side to permit it to beautomatically engaged by the free edge of the trap door when the latter,after the trap has been sprung, seeks its normal position. The rockshaft 13 has a bait supporting hook 16. The parts just named areadjusted and arranged with sufficient delicacy to enable the trap to bereadily sprung by a victim positioned upon the trap door.

The partition 3 which separates the primary compartment B from thelarger compartment C has a door way 17 leading into the lattercompartment and provided with a gravity door 18 under which the victimsmay pass into the compartment C, but which will obstruct their returninto the compartment B. The compartment C will thus constitute a placeof confinement in which an indefinite number of victims may beaccumulated and from which they may be eventually removed and disposedof.

The operation and advantages of the improved trap will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description taken in connec tion with thedrawings hereto annexed. l'he covering 7 of cloth or other suitablematerial affords a good foot hold for the vermin, and

is especially useful when the trap is constructed of sheet metal whichinterferes with the travel of the animals,while the latter, by thepresence of the cloth or other covering, will be readily induced totravel in the direction of the trap door. When the trap is properlypositioned, in the corner of the room, the bait supported upon the hook16 can be reached only by a victim standing uponthe trap door, andnibbling at the bait will quickly cause the yoke 15 to swing until thefree edge of the trap door is released from the catch 15, thus causingthe trap door to tilt under the weight of the victim, the latterdropping into the compartment B while the trap door is reset under theimpulse of the counter weight 9. The only eXit from the compartment B isbeneath the gravity door 18, the latter leading into the compartment Cwhere the victims accumulate until disposed of.

We claim:

1. In an animal trap, a quadrant shaped casing having a partitionconnecting the two straight sides and forming a receiving compartment atthe corner of the casing, a pivotally supported trap door forming thetop of the receiving compartment, a yoke supported pivotally adjacent tothe free end of the trap door and having a beveled catch. engaging thelatter, and a rock shaft supporting the yoke and having a bait hook.

2. In an animal trap, a casing having a receiving connpartment and astorage compartment, a pivotally supported trap door forming the top ofthe receiving compartment, a yoke supported pivotally adjacent to thefree end of the trap door and having a catch engaging the latter, aweight carrying arm extending from the pivotally supported end of thetrap door, and a door for the storage compartment of the trap, said doorbeing arranged beneath the weight carrying arm, and normally obstructedby said arm.

In testimony whereof, we allix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN O. CARLSON. CARL OSCAR HEDS'IROML Witnesses:

S. C. STEWART, S. L. STEWART.

